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It’s Interesting About Sustainability!

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When we think about things that aren’t sustainable, most of us think in terms of what’s good or bad for the environment. And generally, what comes to our minds are manufactured chemicals, or large quantities of materials that are toxic, or substances that aren’t “natural”, or even catastrophic events of nature like volcanos and forest fires. But recently an example of a very small quantity of a product we’ve all used most of our lives to protect us from the sun has been deemed to be upsetting to the environment and is no longer considered to be sustainable for aquatic life. For as it turns out, even the small quantity of suntan lotion that we use outdoors can be dangerous to the coral reefs in Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Island and Israel. In May, Hawaii became the first state in the U.S. to pass a law prohibiting the sale of over-the-counter sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate that scientists have found contribute to coral bleaching when washed off in the ocean. The new Hawaiian rules will go into effect January 1, 2021. So it isn’t always large quantities of certain chemicals that cause environmental problems. Of course, we at GreenEarth are committed to using a medium that is scientifically proven to be environmentally non-toxic. And while the GreenEarth silicone dry cleaning fluid is the same silicone that is used as a major ingredient in sun tan lotions, we think it’s important to note that the ban on these lotions is not because of our silicone chemical but rather the small amount of two of the other chemicals used in the product. And so, small amounts of certain chemicals can be much more dangerous than large amounts of other chemicals! Each has to be evaluated scientifically based upon the impact they cause. By: Ron Benjamin The post It’s Interesting About Sustainability! appeared first on GreenEarth Cleaning.

Red, White, Blue… And GREEN!

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The Fourth of July is here, and it’s time to break out your red, white, and blue! But don’t forget your green. This holiday is about celebrating our beautiful country, so doesn’t it make sense that we also should be conscious of how we care for it? Check out these tips on letting freedom ring in a sustainable way. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of reusables Disposables may be convenient when hosting holiday festivities, but they’re far from friendly to the environment. Bring down the reusable plates, bowls, cups, and silverware! A few extra dishes at the end of the night is all in the name of a cleaner planet. If you must use disposables, though, choose materials you can easily recycle, like paper, glass, and aluminum. There’s even dinnerware you can buy that’s been recycled once already—just make sure to keep it going! Grill that I love If you’re like me, barbecue is pretty much a must on the Fourth of July. However, there are greener ways than others to prepare your mouth-watering American fare. The majority of scientists have come to the conclusion that gas grills trump charcoal. Lump charcoal requires the cutting down of mesquite trees. And on top of the deforestation affect, it also takes more fuel to produce and transport than propane. Apart from these most common models, electric and solar-powered grills are even better in terms of eco-friendliness. Sweet land of carpooling When it comes to those who are traveling for Independence Day, try cutting down on gasoline emissions by taking as few vehicles as possible. Or go by public transit, instead. Either way, you’ll be helping the planet and traffic buildup. It’s really a win-win! From sea to shining sea Wherever you are this Fourth of July, spend it outside. Turn off the TV, put your phone down, and enjoy the summer weather. Set up some lawn games for a little friendly competition. Organize a hike to a breathtaking lookout spot. “Amber waves of grain” or “purple mountain majesties”—nothing gets you in the patriotic spirit quite like America’s nature. Stars and stripes…and sparkles It’s hard to imagine the Fourth of July without fireworks. Unfortunately, after the spectacle, fireworks fall back to the ground and release a number of pollutants into our water, soil, and air. It’s best to just forego the sparklers, rockets, roman candles, and whatever else you may find inside those brightly-colored, one-time-a-year tents. At the very least, gather at a community-hosted event to minimize the number of releases. The post Red, White, Blue… And GREEN! appeared first on GreenEarth Cleaning.

Palm Oil – A Small Step in The Right Direction

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British Frozen Food store ‘Iceland’ is looking to ban Palm Oil in its own branded products by the end of 2018. One of the food retailers outside of the big four Supermarkets, feels that the production of Palm Oil in South East Asia, is not sustainable and in fact it’s their opinion that harvesting Palm Oil is having a devastating effect, which is why they have taken the decision. They will still however continue to stock products by other brands that may contain Palm Oil but hope their decision might influence others. Iceland have also committed to removing plastic from its own branded products by 2023. After the end of the year, their own products will carry a ‘No Palm Oil’ sticker, which features an image of an orangutan. Chances are Palm Oil is found in many products found around the home, from Biscuits to Soap and Iceland were first alerted to the full details of Palm Oil harvesting by Greenpeace. Richard Walker, Managing Director of Iceland has stated: “Until Iceland can guarantee palm oil is not causing rainforest destruction, we are simply saying ‘no to palm oil’. We don’t believe there is such a thing as ‘sustainable’ palm oil available to retailers, so we are giving consumers a choice about what they buy” Why is Palm Oil considered to be controversial? Palm oil production is said to have been responsible for about 8% of the world’s deforestation between 1990 and 2008, which also has a knock on effect on the wild life that live there. Burning large areas of forests to clear areas where oil palms can be grown has also been blamed for high levels of air pollution in South East Asia Some experts say eating palm oil is unhealthy because it is high in saturated fat EU labelling laws were changed in 2014 so products must now state specifically if they contain palm oil. Iceland Frozen Food’s annual commitment to Palm Oil is 500 tonnes. Whilst this is a drop in the 400,000 tonnes that comes into the U.K. each year, it is definitely a step into the right direction.   The post Palm Oil – A Small Step in The Right Direction appeared first on GreenEarth Cleaning.

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GreenEarth Day

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The year 2020 will mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, or GreenEarth Day as we like to call it, and currently this celebration is recognized as the largest secular observance in the world. There are an estimated over 5,000 environmental groups in 184 countries focused on educating and activating the world’s population to encourage policy change and influence positive human behavior. The participants worldwide for Earth Day are estimated to exceed well over 1 billion people. Countless conservation and sustainability projects are being promoted on every possible channel imaginable focused on this day. With the culture and mission of GreenEarth Cleaning so aligned with the spirit of Earth Day, it is understandable that it takes on the feeling of a birthday celebration for the GreenEarth family. GreenEarth Cleaning sees our focus to help this industry follow our lead in promoting year-round attention to sustainable garment care. The message below went out to all our Affiliates worldwide in advance of Earth Day was meant to be shared with all and the message bears repeating. Happy Earth Day What’s your one thing? Why not make everyday Earth Day by making a resolution to take at least one positive green action each and every day? Doing one green thing each day is an easy enough promise to make, and you’ll feel good about keeping it GreenEarth Affiliates, their employees and customers are aware of the positive impact that our commitment to sustainability benefits the environment. On this one day, it feels right to merge our names here on this day, joining with the Earth Day celebration and proclaim that: GreenEarthDay is Everyday! The post GreenEarth Day appeared first on GreenEarth Cleaning.